Festivals & events

40 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.

• New Year's Day (1, Cairo & Giza) — National public holiday celebrating the start of the new year with festivities across the country. Banks, government offices, and many busi…
• Coptic Christmas (1, Cairo & Giza) — The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas following the Julian calendar, with special church services and family gatherings. A public…
• Hanging Church Festival (1, Cairo & Giza) — Celebrations at Cairo's iconic Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa) in Coptic Cairo with special liturgies and gatherings of pilgrims. Dates vary a…
• Revolution Day (January 25) (1, Cairo & Giza) — Commemorates the 2011 Egyptian Revolution with rallies, ceremonies, and street celebrations across the country. A major national public hol…
• Abu Simbel Sun Festival (2, Aswan & Nubia) — Twice yearly phenomenon where the sun illuminates the inner sanctum of Abu Simbel temple, drawing thousands of visitors to witness this ast…
• Luxor Balloon Festival (2, Luxor & Thebes) — Hot air balloon rides over the Valley of the Kings and Luxor's monuments, typically held in cooler winter months with multiple balloons lau…
• Ismailia International Festival (2, Suez Canal & Sinai) — Celebrates Ismailia's heritage with cultural performances, sporting events, and exhibitions highlighting the Suez Canal's importance. Usual…
• Coptic Easter (Moveable) (3, Cairo & Giza) — The Coptic Orthodox Easter celebration with solemn Holy Week services and joyful resurrection celebrations following the Julian calendar. D…
• Sinai Liberation Day (4, Sinai Peninsula) — Commemorates Egypt's complete withdrawal from Sinai in 1982 with military parades and nationalist celebrations. A public holiday.
• Sham El Nessim (4, Cairo & Giza) — Ancient Egyptian spring festival celebrated the day after Coptic Easter with outdoor picnics, traditional foods, and family gatherings in p…
• Labour Day (5, Cairo & Giza) — International labour day celebrated in Egypt with worker demonstrations and public holidays for rest and celebration.
• Eid al-Fitr (Moveable) (4, Cairo & Giza) — Three-day Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan with family gatherings, new clothes, gifts, and special foods. Major public holiday w…
• Eid al-Adha (Moveable) (6, Cairo & Giza) — Four-day Islamic festival of sacrifice commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, celebrated with animal slaughter, feasting…
• Islamic New Year (Moveable) (7, Cairo & Giza) — Marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year with religious observances and some public celebrations. A public holiday.
• Prophet Muhammad's Birthday - Mawlid al-Nabi (Moveable) (9, Cairo & Giza) — Celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad with religious gatherings, processions, and special sweets distributed throughout Muslim communiti…
• Cairo International Film Festival (11, Cairo & Giza) — One of Africa's oldest and most prestigious film festivals featuring international and Arab cinema with screenings, premieres, and industry…
• Revolution Day (June 30) (6, Cairo & Giza) — Commemorates the June 30, 2013 protests and demonstrations with national celebrations and official ceremonies. A public holiday.
• Nile Flood Festival (Historical) (8, Luxor & Thebes) — Commemorates the ancient Egyptian celebration of the Nile's inundation season with cultural events and historical reenactments. Modern cele…
• Alexandria International Summer Festival (7, Alexandria) — Multi-week festival featuring music, theatre, dance, and cultural performances celebrating Mediterranean heritage along Alexandria's waterf…
• Aswan Nubia Festival (2, Aswan & Nubia) — Celebrates Nubian culture with traditional music, dance, crafts, and cuisine in Aswan. Features performances from local Nubian communities.
• Hurghada Red Sea Festival (10, Red Sea Riviera) — Beach festival celebrating Red Sea tourism with water sports, music, diving competitions, and beach activities. Celebrates marine life and…
• Abu Simbel Sun Festival (Second) (10, Aswan & Nubia) — Second annual occurrence of the sun phenomenon at Abu Simbel temple when sunlight penetrates the inner sanctum, attracting thousands of vis…
• Sharm El-Sheikh International Triathlon (4, Sinai Peninsula) — International sporting event featuring swimming, cycling, and running competitions attracting athletes from around the world. Showcases Sin…
• El Gouna Festival of Arts (9, Red Sea Riviera) — Contemporary arts festival in the planned resort town featuring visual arts, sculpture, and cultural performances. Celebrates modern Egypti…
• Suez Canal Day (7, Suez Canal & Sinai) — Celebrates the nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956 with ceremonies, parades, and national pride events in canal cities. A public holi…
• Dendera Temple Festival (3, Upper Egypt) — Celebrates the Dendera Temple complex with cultural performances and historical reenactments. Honors the Temple of Hathor in ancient Dender…
• Edfu Horus Festival (4, Upper Egypt) — Celebrates the Temple of Horus with historical reenactments and cultural events highlighting ancient Egyptian religious practices. Performe…
• Luxor Luxor Marathon (2, Luxor & Thebes) — International marathon run through ancient Thebes with routes passing temples and archaeological sites. Combines sport with sightseeing.
• Aswan International Women's Film Festival (3, Aswan & Nubia) — Annual film festival showcasing films by and about women with screenings and discussions. Important cultural event for independent cinema.
• Wadi El Rayan Eco-Tourism Festival (11, Western Desert) — Celebrates the protected desert ecosystem with eco-friendly activities, bird watching, and nature education. Held in the stunning Wadi El R…
• Dakhla Oasis Festival (10, Western Desert) — Celebrates oasis culture with traditional music, crafts, and desert heritage featuring local Bedouin traditions. Showcases unique desert co…
• Nile Delta Agricultural Fair (3, Nile Delta) — Celebrates the Nile Delta's rich agricultural heritage with crop exhibitions, farming competitions, and traditional products. Important eve…
• Tanta Sugar Festival (9, Nile Delta) — Celebrates Egypt's sugar production with displays, traditional sweets, and family entertainment in Tanta. Features local sugar-based delica…
• Port Said International Theatre Festival (10, Suez Canal & Sinai) — Prestigious theatre festival featuring Egyptian and international theatrical performances. Celebrates dramatic arts and cultural exchange.
• Revolution Day (July 23) (7, Cairo & Giza) — Commemorates the 1952 Free Officers' Revolution that overthrew the monarchy with military parades and nationalist celebrations. A major pub…
• Armed Forces Day (10, Cairo & Giza) — Commemorates Egypt's armed forces with military parades, ceremonies, and celebrations honoring soldiers and national defense. A public holi…
• Nubian Festival of Culture and Arts (11, Aswan & Nubia) — Comprehensive celebration of Nubian heritage with music, dance, traditional crafts, and cuisine featuring the vibrant Nubian community. Hig…
• Alexandria Mediterranean Tourism Forum (9, Alexandria) — International tourism forum and cultural festival celebrating Alexandria's Mediterranean heritage with exhibitions and performance events.…
• Egyptian National Day (11, Cairo & Giza) — National holiday celebrating Egyptian sovereignty and national identity with official ceremonies and street celebrations throughout the cou…
• New Year Eve Celebrations (12, Cairo & Giza) — Grand celebrations ringing in the new year with parties, fireworks, and festivities throughout major cities including Cairo, Alexandria, an…